Aya turned to James when she saw the face of one of their new home helpers. She grabbed James' hand and buried her face to his chest.
"What's the matter?" one of the new maid asked in a hushed tone.
"Well, it's such a coincidence but the eldest young miss who just died last year looked exactly like Bianca." the old maid whispered.
Today, two new home helpers were sent by the housekeeper agency to the Song household. One was Lucia, an eighteen year old girl and Bianca who was twenty four. But the moment Aya and James saw Bianca, their heart ached at once. Her features were perfectly identical to Jienna's. It's as if she had risen from the dead. Aya started crying and James had to take her out of the kitchen. She was just getting better this past few days. Aya can't take this much of stimulants!
"Let's just send her back to the agency." James suggested.
Aya shook her head at once. "Isn't she really Jienna? Are you sure she's not Jienna?" Aya asked.
"Dear, Jienna is already dead. No one can ever bring her back." James mumbled to coax her. They remained seated on the sofa with Aya in his arms for a long time. He patiently patted her back until she finally calmed down.
"Don't send her away. I want her here." she finally stated after calming down.
James narrowed his eyes. That woman; he had a feeling that she will only bring them trouble!
***
"Why are you staring at me?" Leo asked. "Is it the food? Is it bad?"
Charmaine shook her head. How can something go wrong with a simple bacon and egg? It was Leo's first time to cook breakfast but how hard was that? She just couldn't help but stare into space as she thinks about various things.
"Then what is it?" he asked. They were all still seated at the breakfast table. Leo and Luke were almost finished but Charmaine has yet to touch her food.
"Nothing. I was just thinking how big of a trouble I'm in after marrying you." she jested yet she wasn't smiling. In her mind, it was more than a simple joke. She knew very well that being Leo's wife was more than just being a simple trophy wife. It also meant being a walking target of every girls who wanted Leo for themselves. It was scary back then. She wondered if it'll be the same in this life time. She tried so hard to not walk this path again, but since she's already here, she needs to be mentally prepared for the hurdles ahead.
"What kind of trouble are you talking about?" he asked. Sometimes, Charmaine can really act weird.
"That Chanel Aikens... she won't give up that easily." she answered. "There will be a banquet by the end of the month and you'll have a scandal with her." she stated. And it wasn't just a small scandal. Both Chanel Aikens' and Leo Ji's reputation suffered a great hit back then.
When he heard that, Leo Ji laughed and shook his head. "Where did that come from? You know sometimes, you really know how to say strange things." he commented. "You also said silly things like that when you were drunk."
Charmaine didn't say anything nor laugh or smile with him. She just kept her cold expression and then after a while started eating her meal.
Leo watched Charmaine's expressionless face. Since yesterday, she's been acting strange like this. He wondered what's wrong. He watched her every move and saw her turned her gaze to Luke. The boy who was silently eating her meal has no idea Charmaine was staring at her with a worried expression.
***
"Are you sure you're alright now?" Leo asked as he approached Charmaine who was currently checking herself on the mirror inside her room. He wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. "Maybe you should rest for today."he suggested.
Charmaine's body stiffened. She can smell Leo's shower fresh scent. Whenever Leo gets close to her like this, she felt a mix of joy and melancholy. She's elated of course to be in his arms but she couldn't help but remember the cruel Leo in his mind who has never held her like this until the day she died.
"I'm alright now." she replied. She stared at their reflection in the mirror and focused on Leo's face. "You will never cheat on me again, right?"
Leo raised his brows. Cheat on her again? He has never cheated on her before! "I promise. You will be my only woman in this lifetime." he stated.
Charmaine nodded. "Alright. I will hold on to that promise. I will give you all my trust. But if you ever cheat on me in this lifetime, I will never ever forgive you again."
Leo hugged her tighter. Something in her words pricked his heart. As if she was keeping a wounded heart. At the same time, he felt worried. Would her heart be so fragile as to let him go over small mishaps? He hoped not.
***
When Leo pulled over in front of the Song mansion, he didn't notice anything unusual. But just when Charmaine was about to open the door and alight from the car, Leo held her wrist to stop her. She turned to him with questioning eyes and saw him pointing somewhere.
"Didn't you say today is your sister's first death anniversary?" he mumbled as he gestured on the view of two women chatting in the garden.
Charmaine surveyed the garden and was immediately taken aback by what she saw. Jienna? Jienna was talking to her mom? No... how could that be? Jienna was already dead! Then who was that woman?
"I'm not looking at Jienna in flesh and blood, am I?" he remarked.
Charmaine shook her head while still having her eyes fixed on the mysterious woman. "No. I was there when Jienna died. That couldn't be my sister." she replied.
"Could it be that she has a twin?" he probed.
"No. This is suspicious. Definitely not a coincidence that someone who looks like my sister showed up during her first death anniversary." Charmaine's eyes narrowed. In her premonition, this person didn't show up at all. That is to say her presence in the Song household was a result of her previous decisions which changed their course of fate. So... who sent that woman here? What was her purpose?
Leo's eyes darkened. His wife was so guarded against this woman. She must have seen something strange in this. "Then about our marriage...." Leo murmurred. "... Let's postpone the announcement to your parents for now." They need to be careful. Charmaine might not be aware but he- Leo Ji is in the middle of a war right now. The enemies are trying their best to bring him down. He just chose not to tell Charmaine about it since he didn't want her to worry.
Charmaine nodded and then alighted from the car. She was about to warn Luke about Jienna's doppleganger but she was late. Luke already saw Bianca the moment he got out and the boy dashed towards the unsuspecting woman.
"Mama! Mama!!!" he shouted.